Husband works full time in real estate sales. There are no other assets per se other than the businesses, the real property, the life insurancepolicies, and retirement accounts which wife is asking for 50% of.

If the parties do not agree the courts tend to attempt to split all assets 50/50 provided those assets were all earned while married. The retirement account, for example, if it was solely earned and started while married, she is entitled to half under California law. If there is 'separate property' assets in that account, then those assets revert back to you and remainder is split between the parties. Same with real property or other assets. If the parties cannot agree that would be the judge's approach along with other attorneys to literally split everything possible in half unless there is evidence the asset was either separate and pre-marriage, the asset was an inheritance, or there is a prenup or other manner of alternative agreement in place denoting the split to be otherwise (which is essentially what you are trying to create here).

You are most welcome. With spousal support the courts look to both guidelines and also to the potential expected lifestyle positions of both parties. If the amount she is requesting is unreasonable, the courts would cut it, but expect your alimony to be close to around 13% of 15% of the difference in income. Plus, it may be wise to put in language denoting that upon retirement you would have a right to file with the courts and seek a modification of payments based on change in circumstance (ie, your retirement).

The rule of thumb of an estimate of alimony is about 13-28% of the difference in come between one spouse and the other. You mentioned you make $300,00 a year. She makes about $41,600 a year. The difference, or $258,400, is what is used to calculate support. The higher the disparity the lower the percentage paid out, and in a case of $258,400, the amount you would likely be required to pay out is about 13-15%, which is closer to $36,000 a year, NOT close to 144k that she is seeking as that would be half of the income of the spouse and not equitable. Giving her $8,000 is exceedingly generous.

I will tell you that...the things you have to go through to be an Expert are quite rigorous.

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